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Spina Bifida Program

Spina Bifida Program

The Spina Bifida Program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is a multidisciplinary program providing comprehensive evaluation and long-term management for infants, children and teens with spina bifida, spinal cord injuries and other spinal cord abnormalities.

Program team members provide coordinated care and consultative services to infants who have had their initial surgery (prenatally or after birth) at CHOP to close the spina bifida defect, spinal cord anomaly or spinal cord injury, as well as children who did not have their initial surgery at CHOP, but have come for the coordinated treatment and services available through this program.

Why choose us

Children with spina bifida and spinal cord defects have complex medical issues involving multiple body systems such as the central nervous system, musculoskeletal system, urinary and intestinal systems. The Spina Bifida Program provides continuity of care for children with these disorders.

Through CHOP's Spina Bifida Program, children and adolescents with spina bifida and other spinal cord injuries or defects will have access to coordinated, multidisciplinary care. The program bridges the gap between primary and specialty care, and provides a vital link to medical and support services available to children with these disorders.

Your child's appointment with the Spina Bifida Program

The Spina Bifida Program Clinic is conducted on Wednesdays in the Musculoskeletal Center on the second floor of Seashore House, part of CHOP's Main Campus.

During clinic, our team takes a complete history, provides an examination of your child, discusses medical issues and recent challenges and accomplishments from the child's and family's point of view.

Following patient visits, the team gathers, internally, to discuss each patient evaluated that day, makes recommendations for continuing care, and sends a complete report to your child's primary care physician.

The clinical team also suggests additional services or equipment that would be helpful in your child's care and development. Your child's care team makes recommendations to schools, community service groups and equipment providers as needed. Additional referrals to subspecialists are also arranged when indicated.